Sero-epidemiological survey on toxoplasmosis in cattle, sheep and goats in Algeria

Toxoplasma gondii infection in Egyptian domestic sheep and goats: seroprevalence and risk factors

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite that has been associated with reproductive failure in small ruminants. Although T. gondii infections in ruminants and humans have been recorded in several Egypt's governorates, but little is known about the risk factors associated with T. gondii infections. In this study, 350 sheep and 290 goat serum samples from three governorates in Egypt were examined for presence of antibodies against T. gondii, and evaluate the associate risk factors for the infection. The seroprevalence in sheep and goats was 24% and 38.28%, respectively. In sheep and goats, age, sex, the presence of cats, and hygienic conditions were identified as risk factors for T. gondii infection. In addition, the prevalence rates were significantly higher in older animals more than 2 years old, females, among animals contacted with cats, and animals living in bad hygienic condition. In conclusion, sheep and goats in the examined regions are commonly infected with T. gondii. The identification of risk variables defines the sort of actions to be implemented in order to decrease, and prevent T. gondii infection in small ruminant animals and, as a result, human infection.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep in Algeria

Toxoplasma gondii infection is recognized as one of the major causes of reproductive failure in sheep and goats. This survey was carried out in order to study the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in sheep in Blida, Bouira and Medea regions from Algeria. The sample size was set at 220 animals distributed over 22 farms. Sera were assayed for T. gondii antibody detection by Modified Agglutination Test (MAT). The overall seroprevalence was 35.9% (79/220) with a herd seroprevalence of 77.3% (17/22). The prevalence was significantly higher in Medea (45.7% of 116 sheep), compared to Blida (27.7% of 83 sheep). Bouira region showed the lowest prevalence with 3 positive samples (14.3%) over 21 sheep. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the likelihood of T. gondii infection was higher in semi-extensive sheep breeding, in regions where the presence of cats is strong, and in highlands when compared with semi-intensive sheep breeding, weak presence of cat and in lowland, respectively. This study shows a high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in sheep in these areas.

A Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Livestock and Poultry Worldwide

Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis with a global prevalence in the world. A large proportion of human illness is most frequently associated with consuming raw and undercooked meat or other animal products containing infective parasitic stages of T. gondii. This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in cattle, sheep, camels, goats, and poultry worldwide. The search was performed in databases including PubMed, WoS, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and ISC from 2000 to 2019 in Persian and English. The main inclusion criteria were the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among livestock and poultry and the prevalence indices by sample size. During these 20 years, the overall prevalence of toxoplasmosis in livestock and poultry was 28.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 25-31.9%) using the random-effects meta-analysis model. The highest prevalence of T. gondii in livestock and poultry animals was found in Asia in 2014 with 89.8% (95% CI 78.5-95.5%). The lowest prevalence was found in Asia in 2013 with 1.26% (95% CI 0.4-3.8%). A quarter of livestock and poultry were infected with T. gondii. Since livestock products are globally important sources of people's diet, our findings are useful for policymakers to control T. gondii infection in livestock.

Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii infecting ruminants in the North-West of Egypt

Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian parasite known for its heavy toll on people and livestock. It can cause abortion and a variety of congenital diseases. The current study aimed to examine some seroprevalence and molecular attributes of T. gondii obtained from ruminants in the North-West of Egypt. Specimens were random selected from five different locations in Alexandria and Matrouh governorates. A total of 483 blood samples, collected from 96 mixed flocks, were screened for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The seropositive results were then confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for the B1 and P30 genes. Specific PCR products were selected for sequencing and alignment against the GenBank, where phylogeny has been examined using the maximum likelihood, neighbor-joining, and maximum parsimony in MEGA6. ELISA confirmed the presence of T. gondii in 188 of the investigated samples (38.92%), indicating a higher prevalence in camels (64.51%) and sheep (43.75%) as compared to goats (27.93 %) and cattle (13.46%). PCR confirmed the presence of T. gondii-specific sequences in 159 seropositive specimens, with homology between 98.3 and 100%. The genetic distances between the investigated variants ranged from 0.1 to 0.9, and 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were identified in the examined T. gondii specimens. The camel T. gondii parasite, isolated from Matrouh, showed a 100% homology with the most dangerous reference strains of T. gondii-RH in the GenBank. Our results showed that B1 and P30-specific PCR could detect T. gondii in blood samples more accurately than ELISA. In addition, the statistical analysis of our data indicated that species, age, sex, and animal location were all risk factors for toxoplasmosis. These findings are likely to boost disease control and help contain the spread of T. gondii infections.

Abortive diseases and their various associated risk factors in small ruminants in Algeria: a systematic review

Abortive infections are a major health challenge affecting productive and reproductive performance of sheep and goats. However, there is no comprehensive summary on the occurrence and distribution of these infections in Algeria. This systematic review provides a comprehensive summary on the prevalence of different abortive diseases and assesses potential risk factors in small ruminants in Algeria. Five databases were used to search epidemiological data on the prevalence of different abortive diseases (bacterial, parasitic, and viral). Data were collected from 25 papers published between 2003 and 2020. The total mean sample size was 53,080 small ruminants. The majority of the diseases/infections were diagnosed by serological and molecular tests. The overall prevalence of brucellosis was 0.39% in sheep and 5.31% in goats. Chlamydia and Q fever were observed in 32.72% and 20.62% of small ruminants, respectively. The prevalence of peste des petits ruminants was 15.76% and the overall prevalence of bluetongue in sheep and goats was, respectively, 13.41% and 44.50%. Border disease and bovine viral diarrhea were detected in 22.68% and 1.01% of sheep examined, respectively. Toxoplasma gondii infection prevalence among sheep and goats was 21.43% and 32.31% respectively. This study is a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of abortion diseases in small ruminants in Algeria and will therefore be a useful tool for researchers. Larger and more robust prevalence studies are needed to adequately support risk assessment and management of animal and public health threats.

The global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in bovines: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Bovines, especially cattle, are considered as one of the main sources of Toxoplasma gondii infection for humans. A more comprehensive understanding of the occurrence of T. gondii is needed to provide a global perspective on the prevalence of T. gondii in bovines. Here, we present the results of the first systematic review and meta-analysis on the global T. gondii seroprevalence in bovines. Six databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest and Google Scholar) were comprehensively searched for relevant studies published between 1 January 1967 and 30 May 2019. Among 7691 publications searched, 178 studies (from 50 countries) with 193 datasets were included in the meta-analysis. The global pooled and weighted seroprevalence of T. gondii among bovines was 17.91% [95% confidence interval (CI): 15.32–20.6]. Weighted prevalence based on the host was as follows: cattle 16.94% (95% CI: 14.25–19.81), buffalo 22.26% (95% CI: 16.8–29), yak 23% (95% CI: 14–33) and bison 8.1% (95% CI: 3.9–13.7). Continued monitoring on the status of T. gondii seroprevalence in bovines is essential. Study on the prevalence of T. gondii in the products of bovines such as milk, meat, etc., which are considered as the source of transmission of infection to humans, is recommended.

Meat-borne parasites in the Arab world: a review in a One Health perspective

Meat-borne parasitic zoonoses are generally not well-monitored, and so understanding extent and overall prevalence is problematic. Without sufficient attention, their prevalence can become unexpectedly and unacceptably high. This review sheds light on meat-borne parasites in the Arab world, which includes all the Arab countries situated in the continents of Asia and Africa, with more than 400 million inhabitants distributed in 22 countries. Meat-borne parasites can be divided into two main categories-helminths and protozoa. The main helminths included in this review are Taenia saginata, Taenia solium, Taenia asiatica, Echinococcus spp., Fasciola spp., and Trichinella spiralis, while the meat-borne protozoan parasites are Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp., and Sarcocystis spp. In addition, Linguatula serrata, which belongs to the class Pentastomida, was included. Among those, the genus Taenia is the most frequently reported in the Arab world, particularly T. saginata. Many parasitic infections that are mainly transmitted through pork, although widespread in many parts of the world, are rare in the Arab countries, primarily due to religious proscriptions. The majority of the publications concerning meat-borne parasites were from Egypt, which contains the largest population in the Arab world and the highest population density, in addition to various economic, social, and environmental reasons.

Public Health Significance of Toxoplasma gondii Infections in Cattle: 2009-2020

Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts excreted by infected cats or ingesting uncooked or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts of T. gondii are the 2 major modes of transmission of T. gondii. Viable T. gondii is more prevalent in pork and lamb than in beef. In the past decade, there have been many articles on the high seroprevalence in cattle, particularly from China. There is a report of an outbreak of acute toxoplasmosis in humans suspected to be linked to the ingestion of Artisan fresh cheese from cow's milk. There are conflicting reports concerning the rate of congenital transmission of T. gondii in cattle, especially from Brazil. In a report from Brazil, viable T. gondii was isolated from the blood of 1 of 60 pregnant cows slaughtered at an abattoir and from 1 fetus. The role of beef in the epidemiology of T. gondii infections is still not clear. Here, we review prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology, and public health risks of T. gondii infections in cattle from beef and cow's milk worldwide for the past decade.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among animals in Algeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals. It is responsible for considerable economic losses in some regions and farming systems. This review aims to synthesize current findings on the prevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in animal species in Algeria. It was performed according to the recommendations of the PRISMA guideline. A total of 14 papers from 1955 to 2020 were eligible to be included in this systematic review and meta-analysis study including a number of 10,187 animals of which 2594 were positive cases (25.46 %) (24.62-26.31 %, 95 %CI). Prevalence of Toxoplasma-infection was 20.04 % in cattle, 22.57 % in sheep, 33.61 % in goats, 28.17 % in horses, 30 % in donkeys, 70.31 % in stray cats, 14.57 % in local rabbits, 30.47 % in dogs and 50.70 % in poultry farms. Adult animals and females were most infected. The highest prevalences were reported in stray cats and poultry. Rabbits were the least infected. This analysis showed a trend of increasing infection since 2015 (R² = 0.129, p > 0.05) which requires further studies to provide better prevention strategies.

Molecular detection of the B1 gene of Toxoplasma gondii in blood samples of female sheep and goats in Tebessa, northeastern Algeria

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasitic zoonosis of crucial medical and veterinary importance. It is mainly diagnosed by serological methods which are limited by insufficient sensitivity. Therefore, it is necessary to rely on direct detection of the parasite. The present study was aimed for direct detection of the parasite DNA in the blood samples of sheep and goats using PCR targeting the B1 gene. The study was carried out in 20 small ruminant farms between 2016 and 2018 in Tebessa region, part of north-eastern Algeria, and concerned 227 and 91 aborted female sheep and goats respectively. DNA of T. gondii was detected in 35.24 % and 18.68 % blood samples of sheep and goats respectively (p < 0.001). Molecular prevalence was higher in 13-24 month old female sheep (93.33 %) than 1-12 month old female sheep (14.37 %) (p < 0.0001). While, in goats no significant difference was observed in relation to age. Female sheep that aborted between 1-60 days of gestation were found to be more infected (46.41 %) compared to females that aborted between 61-120 days of gestation (12.16 %) (p < 0.001). Whereas, female goats that aborted between 61-120 days of gestation were found to be more infested (30.77 %) compared to females that aborted between 1-60 days of gestation (16.67 %) (p < 0.001). This study revealed that small ruminants are highly infected with T. gondii, which represents a major risk for the consumer in Tebessa. Further studies are needed to improve our knowledge of the different genotypes of T. gondii infecting small ruminant population.

Economic and public health importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in sheep: 2009-2020

Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The present review summarizes worldwide information on the prevalence of clinical and subclinical infections, epidemiology, diagnosis, control, and genetic diversity of T. gondii in sheep in the past decade. There is debate and uncertainty concerning repeat congenital infection as evidenced by finding T. gondii DNA in progeny of chronically infected sheep. However, there is no concrete evidence that T. gondii is the cause of repeated abortions in sheep. Recent data concerning pathogenesis of abortion in acutely infected sheep are reviewed. PCR-RFLP typing of T. gondii DNA derived from viable T. gondii isolates or tissues of infected sheep revealed low genetic diversity in sheep in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America but high diversity in South America. This review will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, veterinarians, and public health workers.

Public health and economic importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in goats: The last decade

Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Toxoplasmosis in goats continues to be of public health and economic concern. The present review summarizes worldwide information on the prevalence of clinical and subclinical infections, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and genetic diversity of T. gondii in goats in the past decade. There is debate and uncertainty regarding excretion of T. gondii in milk and the ingestion of raw milk as sources of T. gondii infection for humans. Toxoplasmosis can cause abortion and deaths even in adult goats. PCR-RFLP typing of T. gondii DNA derived from viable T. gondii isolates has revealed genetic diversity in goats in North and South America. The significance of T. gondii isolates in domestic goats usually associated with wildlife in USA is discussed. This review will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, veterinarians, and public health workers.

Serological Survey and Associated Risk Factors on Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Goats in Mila District, Algeria

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite prevalent in humans and other animals worldwide having medical and veterinary importance on account of reproductive failure causing significant socioeconomic losses. The aims of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in goats, determined the possible risk factors associated, and evaluate the performances of the latex agglutination test (LAT) to anti-T. gondii antibodies screening using the indirect Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a reference test (iELISA). A total of 184 serum samples from goats reared on 25 farms in Mila district from North-Eastern Algeria were collected and tested for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies using two commercial serological tests (ELISA and LAT). A seroprevalence rate of 71.73 % and 63.58 % was obtained by both ELISA and LAT tests, respectively. The analysis of some factors thought to be related to the onset of this infection such as age, sex, management system, locality and presence of cats showed no significant relationship (P > 0.05); these factors did not seem to affect the frequency of the infection. The seropositivity level of T. gondii was significantly higher in aborted goats (P = 0.007), which suggested that they may play a significant role in pregnancy failure. In the concordance evaluation between the two serological tests (ELISA and LAT), the Cohen’s Kappa value was calculated and the results showed a K of 0.519 (p = 0.000) belonging to the range of 0.41—0.60 indicating just average agreement. The results of the Mc Nemar test showed that both tests gave significantly different results and seropositivity values (P < 0.05). The high prevalence observed in this study indicated a widespread exposure to T. gondii from goats and the potential risk of T. gondii infection for humans in North-Eastern Algeria. These results elucidate the challenges of applying serology to estimate goat exposure to T. gondii. The choice between the two serological tests will depend on their performances, as well as the availability of the equipment, laboratory conditions and the number of samples to be tested.

Seroprevalence and factors associated with bovine and swine toxoplasmosis in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Background and Aim:

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis with major public health importance. To know more about this condition in Burkina Faso, this study was implemented to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pigs and cattle in intra-urban and peri-urban area of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).

Materials and Methods:

Serum samples were collected from 600 cattle and 600 pigs with 300 samples from each species in intra-urban and peri-urban area of Bobo-Dioulasso. Data about age, sex, and breed of each animal were also noted. Serum samples were analyzed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to look for immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies to T. gondii.

Results:

This study revealed a herd prevalence of 92.5% and 75%, respectively for porcine and bovine toxoplasmosis. At the individual level, we found a prevalence of 29% and 49.2% for cattle and pigs, respectively. For each species, we noticed a significant association between age, sex, breed husbandry system, and the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies. The prevalence was significantly higher in female, intra-urban system, exotic breed, and animal <2 years old (p<0.05)

Conclusions:

The results provided evidence for the presence of T. gondii in pigs and cattle farms around Bobo-Dioulasso. Hence, in Bobo-Dioulasso, raw or undercooked meat consumption is a risk for T. gondii infection for human. Knowledge of the prevalence of toxoplasmosis will help to target prevention efforts.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in rabbit of local Algerian population

AIM

The objective of this investigation was to determine the seroprevalence and identify the risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the rabbit of the local Algerian population from five districts of Northern Algeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood samples of 350 rabbits were collected and analyzed for the presence of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additional data concerning the farms and management practices were obtained through a questionnaire used in surveys and interviews.

RESULTS

The overall seroprevalence was 14.6% (51/350). The seroprevalence was significantly higher in outdoor rearing farms and was linked to the presence of animals from other species on the farm. A higher seroprevalence was found in older animals compared to younger ones. No difference in seroprevalence was noted with respect to the origin or gender of animals, type of cage, feed and water sources, presence of cats in the vicinity, hygiene status, or season.

CONCLUSION

This study has shown that T. gondii prevalence in rabbits of the local population is relevant and may have important implications for public health in rural areas.

Serological survey for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sheep of northeastern Algeria

Although T. gondii is of considerable both public and veterinary importance worldwide, studies on its existence in sheep in Algeria, either through serology and or parasitology is scarce. To this end, a cross-sectional study was carried out in Tébessa, an Algerian eastern province, to, firstly, investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep and, secondly, determine the potential risk factors that may be associated with seropositivity. A total of 376 serum samples from 39 flocks, collected between September 2015 and October 2017, were tested for anti-T.gondii antibodies via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA). A T. gondii seroprevalence of 35.37% (95% CI 30.54-40.21%) was recorded, and 84.61% (95% CI 73.29-95.94%) of the flocks sampled had, at least, one seropositive animal. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that abortion during the latest pregnancy (OR = 1.56; 95% CI 1.02-2.44; p = 0.05), presence of goats in sheep flocks (OR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.04-2.98; p = 0.037), and the sampling period were the variables significantly associated with seropositivity. The present study reports, for the first time in this part of Algeria, the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and bears out the highly dissemination capacity of the parasite. This is of a great importance for veterinarians in charge of veterinary public health, veterinary practitioners, and breeders in order to improve the control and prophylactic measures of toxoplasmosis. Nevertheless, further study should be conducted to explore the impact of the parasite on public and animal health.

Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in North Africa: a review

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. The disease is distributed worldwide and can affect all warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. The present review aimed to collect, compile and summarize the data on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in humans and animals in the five North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt). Published data from national and international databases were used. Distribution patterns and risk factors for T. gondii infection are discussed, focusing on biotic and abiotic factors. This review is a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of T. gondii infection in North Africa and will therefore be a useful tool for researchers. It can also be used to propose or enhance appropriate national toxoplasmosis control programs.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection among Domestic Ruminants in East Hararghe Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was carried out from July 2011 to September 2013 to assess the seroprevalence and identify risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic ruminants of East Hararghe zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia. Sera of 1360 domestic ruminants were analyzed for the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). Additionally, the owners were also interviewed using a structured questionnaire to identify the potential risk factors of T. gondii infection. Overall, the prevalence of T. gondii infection in domestic ruminants was 22.2% (302/1360). The seroprevalence in sheep, goats, cattle, and camels was 33.7%, 27.6%, 10.7%, and 14.4%, respectively. District, species, sex, age, and water source were identified as risk factors for T. gondii infection. Increased seropositivity was observed in females (OR = 2.63) and also with the use of pond (OR = 4.25) and pipe (OR = 9.57) water sources in sheep; age >1 year old (OR = 3.45) and with drinking from pond (OR = 6.03) and pipe (OR = 11.61) water sources in goats; with the use of pond (OR = 5.60) and pipe (OR = 10.68) water sources in cattle; and in >4-year-old camels (OR = 2.49). In conclusion, T. gondii infection is common and widespread among the domestic ruminants of the study area, indicating the potential transmission to humans from these animals when they are used as a source of food. Hence, it is crucial to raise awareness of the people about T. gondii infection and conduct further study to explore the impact of the disease on food animal production.